Musical instrument employing a diaphragm.



MICHAEL IUGCI, OF MASPETH, NEW YORK.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT EMPLOYING A DIAPHRAGM.

Specification of Letters I'atent.

Patented July 17, 1917.

Application filed October 9, 1916. Serial No. 124,458.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, MrorrAEL IUCGI, a native of Italy, having declared my intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, a resident of Maspeth, county of Queens, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Musical Instruments Employing Diaphragms, of which the following is a specification.

My improvements relate to musical instruments in which membranous diaphragms form an essential part, as in banjos, drums, etc.

My invention consists essentially in the provision of means whereby a ring bearing against the under side of the diaphragm may be quickly and conveniently adjusted to relax said diaphragm or to render it uniformly taut, as desired, by the simple manipulation of a single device arranged axially tosaid ring, all as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, 7

Figure '1, is a front view of a banjo provided with my improved device, the position of the same being indicated by dotted lines, and the neck of the banjo being shown as broken away in part;

Fig. 2, is a rear View of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, is a transverse section, upon a larger. scale, taken upon plane of line 3-3,

Fig. 2; p

ig. 4 is an inverted perspective View of my improved device ready for application to the instrument.

Fig. 5, is a sectional elevation showing the application of my improved device to a kettle-drum.

Fig. 6, is a sectional elevation showing a v modification.

I herein show and describe my improved device as applied to a banjo and to a kettleclrum, although it is applicable also to snare and other drums and musical instruments provided with resonant non-metallic diaphragms. I also show the member a, for contacting with the under or inner side of the diaphragm d, as annular in configuration. I designate it for convenience as a ring a, although it is obvious that variations in the shape of said member a, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and intent of. my invention in this which meshes with 'a pinion p,

respect. I contemplate the use of a substantially annular bearing member contacting with the inner side of the diaphragm near the supporting rim of the instrument, in conjunction with centralized means whereby the diaphragm may be quickly and conveniently tightened by the turning of a single screw or equivalent mechanical expedientin such manner that the central. portionof the diaphragm will be rendered taut and effective as a resilient medium for the production or augmentation of sound. Thus the diaphragm may be as readily relieved of tension when the instrument is not required for immediate use.

The membranous diaphragm d, is mounted and stretched over the annular rim 1, of the instrument in the usual Way by means of asecuring ring 8, held in place by clamps 0, which are made adjustable for the purpose of effecting the requisite stretch of the diaphragm.

In Figs. 1, and 2, n, represents the inner portion of the usual fretted neck of a banjo or similar stringed instrument, and b, the usual spine or cross bar extending centrally from one side of the rim of the instrument to the other. In the case of a kettle or other drum, asin Fig. 5, this cross bar I), is especially provided for the purpose of afi'ording a rest and support for my improved device.

By preference the latter comprises" the bearing member a, for contacting directly with the rear side of the diaphragm d, as hereinbefore stated, the internally threaded hub a, to which the said bearing member ,a, is rigidly attached by a lurality of radial arms a a and the adjusting screw a, formed with ahead at, adapted to rest upon and engage with the cross bar b,said screw head being provided with radial projections (1 or otherwise formed to facilitate manip}, ulation by hand. In the case of the kettle drum shown in Fig. 5, the head a, of screw a is in the form of a bevel M ear inner end of a rod or shaft p',r ich e xtends through the side of the s provided with a suitable handl effecting the manipulation of H eyi'ce by external. means. Y

Obviously, if desired, the screw threading of the parts may be reversed with like result, the hub a, being formed with, the,

regulate the degree of pressure exerted by the member a, against the diaphragm d, and this manipulation may readily and quickly be effected by hand,

It is} to be noted this connection that the arms a, a support the contactin -face of the member a, above the plane'of the adjacent surface of the hub a, so, that the latter does not contact with the diaphragm when the diaphragm is held taut over the member a and that said contacting :face of the member a, is also above the edge of the rim 7', over which the diaphragm d, is stretched, so that the central portion of the iaphmgmn ese ts a plane Slightly raised. above the marginal part thereo The ease with which the diaphragm CZ, may be tightened or relaxed by my improrcd; device is an important ad'avntage in use; thatall parts of the diaphragm are simultaneously acted upon is also important factor.

For these reasons my device is particularly efi'ective as a means of attaining that snappy quality ofsound vibration or tone so desired by professional musicians; and hi on 'W ll' e, a t ned almost indefitely.

he impl tya d. i ectne s mym ans of controlling the tension 'of the diaphragm enab 4 lm st. stantly adj h strinnent, immediate use, or relax the diaphra use, by the simple. expedient of 1 atiiig, the single screw a in one diregtidn ortheotherby hand as hereinbefore in y f economizing in'both; time and Furthermore my device is inexpensiife and the provisiqn made for the. in-

g ii eeus .rela iat beo e n of the e phragm -w n de irabl 'tendslto pr the life a'nd'util-ityotfi the diaphragm, since it is s lkno thatif-he iifu i le ig tension wheijthe instrnment'is not in use atmospherea nd other conditions tend constantly to the deterioration or even rupture of a membranous diaphragm.

l' claim as ,my. invention and desire toisecure by Letters Patent is,

in combination with ,a musical instru ment embodyinga dia hragm, an axial support, a r ng radial supported solely through said axial support when the instrument si in use, said ring contacting with .the rear side of the diaphragm, and axia1ly-disposed means for adjusting supporttoward or away fromthe diaphragm.

Copies of this patent may'be obtainedtorfive cents each, by addressingtheafl fiommisstonu oI -Qatwt ig ment is in use, said ring contacting with the rear side of the diaphragm, and axially-disposed screw, means for adjustin said-sup port toward or away from the iiaphragm.

3. In combination with a musical instrument embodying a diaphragm, an axial support, a rin radially supported solely through said axial support when the instrument is in use, said ring contacting with the rear side of the diaphragm, axially-disposed screw means for adjusting said support toward or away from the diaphragm, and means for actuating said screw means by hand to control the tension of the diaphragm.

4;. In combination with a diaphragmatic musical instrument of the character designated, a substantially annular member supported solely through an axial member when the instrument is in use, said annular member contacting with the rear side of the diaphragm, a female screw-threaded axial memher to which said annular member is rigidly attached by radial means, a male screwth-readedmember engaging said axial membox and interposed between it and a station,- ary partof the instrument, and means/for manually turning said screw for adjusting said axial member toward or from the diaphragm.

5. In combination with a diaphragmatic musical instrument of the character designated, a substantially annular member supported solely through an axial memberwhen th instrument is in use, said annular mem ber contacting with the rear side of the diaphragm, an axial member to whichsaid ann'ular member is rigidly attached, screw mechanism for adj'usting'said axial member toward or from the diaphragm, and gear mechanism arranged to actuate said ad j usting screw mechanism,

6. Ina musical instrument-embodying" a diaphragnnan axial member, a substantially annular member supported solely through said axial member when the instrument isin use, said annular member contacting with the rearside of the diaphragm, radial supports extending from said axial member for supporting said annular member, and ax ially disposed means for adjusting said axi'al member, said last-named means being inde- Doiaornr MI -IT.

Washington, D. 0. 

